Tawang monastery, Arunachal Pradesh : The 400 year old world renowned Buddhist monastery (1643) was founded by a monk Mera Lama, a contemporary of the fifth Dalai Lama. It has modern sloped houses, a thriving bazaar, satellite communication and other amenities of modern life. It is one of the biggest Mahayana monasteries at 2760 m surrounded on all sides by towering mountains. The fortified monastery spread over 140 sq m having a 5.5 m high gilded statue of Buddha.